Sex with the dead? Arroyos want it criminalized

MANILA, Philippines – Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have re-filed a measure penalizing necrophiles or those who morbidly derive sexual gratification by having intercourse with a corpse.

House Bill 1375 authored by Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Camarines Rep. Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo seeks to criminalize necrophilia and include it in the Revised Penal Code.

The measure defines necrophilia as sexual intercourse, anal and/or oral sex with a corpse.

In filing the bill, Arroyo said "sexual violation of or sexual intercourse with a female corpse is presently beyond the pale of our criminal justice system."

"Article 309 of the New Civil Code on desecration of the dead merely gives rise to liability for damages," Arroyo said.

Arroyo said necrophilia should be penalized to the fullest extent of the law.

"Article 335 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by RA7659, forcible or violent violation of a woman's chastity under any circumstance is a most detestable crime, a heinous crime and penalized, in qualified cases, with the penalty of death," Arroyo said.

"The incorporation of a new Article imposing stiffer penalties on those who engage in such a grisly and heinous act shall put a stop to such vicious bestiality, notoriously offensive and revolting to the feelings of the living," Arroyo stressed.

Persons found guilty of necrophilia shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor to reclusion temporal and a fine of P100,000 to P500,000 at the discretion of the court.

If necrophilia is committed by two or more persons, or by any person in whose care or custody the corpse is found, the penalty shall be reclusion temporal.